Machine for flanging the ends of can-bodies.



APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3, 190B.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. O. SHARP.

MACHINE FOR PLANGING THE ENDS 0P CAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 3, 1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED srntgns PATENT OFFICE.

LEE C. SHARP, OF PLA'ITSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CANCOMIANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR FLANGING THE ENDS 0F CAN-BODIES.

Application filed October 3.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE C. SHARP, of Plattsmouth, county of Cass. Stateof Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Flanging the Ends of Can-Bodies, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact specification, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a machine adapted to form flanges on the ends ofcan bodies fitting such bodies for the reception of the head of the canand the formation of a crimped seam joining the head to the body. Thedevice may be used in various connections either as a separate machineor as a part of an organized can body forming machine and when in thislatter arrangement it serves to receive the bodies directly from thebody former and produce the flanges at a rate of speed corresponding tothe speed of the body former. The construction of the end flangingmechanism. is such that a high speed of operation may be maintained. Ialso so organize the device that it serves as a self feeder taking thecan bodies automatically from a chute or other receptacle providedtherefor.

My invention involves various other features of importance all of whichwill be fully set forth hereinafter and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Reference is bad to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, as anexample, one manner of embodying my invention, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with parts in section; Fig.2 is a sectional side elevation of the same with parts in section; Fig.3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken completely through theflange forming parts. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one the cams forreciprocating the flanging ies.

'hen the device is organized with a can body former it is applieddirectly to the discharge chute thereof and when separately operated itis preferable to juxtapose the device to a chute in which the can bodiesare placed and by which chute they are held in a superimposed pile readyto be passed successively through the flanging device. In Figs. 1 and 2the frame structure 10 may be taken to be either a part of the frame ofa Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24. 191.4.

1908. Serial No. 455,950.

body former or merely a support provided for the end flanging device andin this frame part 10 is arranged a chute 11 open at its upper end toreceive the can bodies which are indicated at a in the drawings andhaving its lower end slightly curved toward the side of the frame part10 to deliver the bodies properly to the flanging device. On said framepart 10 are mounted, preferably in horizontal alinement two boxes 12 inwhich are arranged revoluble and slidable shafts 14. These shafts arepressed outward by coiled springs 15 thrusting against the outer ends ofthe boxes and against collars 16 secured to the outer ends of theshafts. Said shafts 14 have their inner or adjacent ends spaced fromeach other to permit the passage of the can body between them and carryat their ends rotary heads 17 with inwardly projecting annular flanges18 adapted to embrace the ends of the can bodies. Said heads 17 also arefurnished with inwardly projecting arc-shaped stops 19 preferablyconstructed as continuations of the flanges 18 but of increasedthickness equal to the width of the flange formed on the can body sothat said stop lugs 19 will engage the side surfaces of the can body andhold the can body properly positioned for the operation of the fiangingdies as indicated in Fig. 3.

The heads 17 are adapted to be rotated by any desired means butpreferably through sprockets 20 secured to the heads and engaged bysuitably driven chains :20. The heads 17 have mounted on their outersurfaces rollers 21 adapted to engage short cams 22 on the adjacent orinner surfaces of the boxes 12, whereby upon the rotation of the heads17, as the rollers 21 strike the earns 22 said heads are momentarilymoved inward toward each other and as the rollers disengage the cams thesprings 15 instantly return the heads to separated position in which therollers 21 run along the plane inner surfaces of the bearings 12.

Carried by the heads and operating within the flanges 18 thereof areHanging dies 23. These are annular in form for a round can body andforangular can bodies may be given a corresponding angular shape. Eachdie is formed with a curved surface 23" adapted to engage the edge ofthe can and by the curvature of such surface to spread out the end ofthe can in theform of a flan e as illustrated in Fig. 3. The dies 23 areastened to studs 24 which are loosely arranged in longitudinal cavities25 formed in the shafts 14 and said shafts are engaged by expansivesprings 26 which tend to force the dies inward toward each otherslightly in advance of the heads 17.

27 indicates pins carried in the shafts 14 and extendin loosely throughslots in the studs 24 limitin the motion of the studs in respect to theheads 17 and causing said studs and the dies carried thereby to beretracted with the heads for admission and discharge of the can bodies.It will be understood that the reciprocating movement im arted to thebeads by the cams 22 is su cient to separate the heads 17, 17, and alsothe dies 23, 23 sufficiently to permit the discharge and receiving ofthe can bodies, while at the same time permitting a limited movement ofthe dies 23 and studs 24 in respect to the heads 17 In the operation ofthe device the heads 17 rotate continuously and in unison and the areshaped stops 19 move past the end of the chute between the bottommostcan and the one next above it. At this time the heads are moved to theiroutermost position and the can is free to fall into the space betweenthe heads past the flanges 18, the can being at this time held by thestops 19 in proper position relatively to the dies 23. Instantlythereafter the rollers 21 strike the cams 22 and move the heads inward.When the heads are separated or moved outward the pile of cans issustained in the chute 11 by the stops 19 and when the heads are movedinward the pile of cans is sustained by the flanges 18 as shown in Fig.3. Instantly upon the inward motion of the heads the inclined surfaces23 engage the ends of the can body and force the same outward formingthe flanges as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the inward motionof the heads 17 causes the dies to move inward correspondingly while thesprings 26 exert a steady pressure on the dies and cause them to engagethe ends of the can body gradually. The inward motion of the dies and ofthe heads is of comparatively short duration the motion beingpractically an instantaneous inward and returned outward motion. Thistakes place without interrupting the rotation of the heads. As the stops19 again move upward the heads separate, the can just operated on fallsfrom the dies and is discharged from the machine and a new can isentered into engagement with the heads and dies as before explained. Itwill, therefore, be seen that this device is capable of a very highspeed of operation, the heads rotating rapidly and a flanging operationbeing performed on both ends of the can once during each rotation.

The annular flanges 18 on the heads 17 serve as limiting walls to limitand true the flanges on the opposite ends of the can body as they areformed by the reciprocating dies 23, the flanges 18 thus serving as aportion of the dies in the formation of the flanges. The shouldersformed by the semi-cylindric or are shaped extensions 19 of the annularflanges 18 serve by engagement with the flanges on the can body asstrippers to free the flanged can body from either die in case the canbody should tend to stick at one end in one of the dies.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies, comprising arotating die conforming in shape to and adapted to fit within the end ofthe can body and simultaneously engage the same at all points of itscircumference and acting to turn a continuous flange on the can bodyaround its entire circumference at the same time, an annular flangesurrounding said die and adapted to be engaged by the flange on the canbody when formed, and automatically operated means for imparting to thedie a back and forth motion longitudinally of the can body to spreadoutward and flange the end thereof, ubstantially as specified.

2. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies, comprising arotating head, a die concentric with and carried by said head andconforming in shape to and adapted to fit within the end of the canbody, an annular flange surrounding said die, and automatically operatedmeans for imparting to the die a back and forth motion axially of thecan to spread outward and flange the end thereof, substantially asspecified.

3. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising a rotatinghead, a die carried thereby and movable axially with respect thereto,means for moving the head and die axially of the can body whereby thedie spreads outward or flanges the end thereof and means for yieldinglypressing the die in an axial direction independently 0F the head.

4. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising a rotatinghead, a die carried thereby and movable axially independently of thehead and conforming in shape to and adapted to fit within the end of thecan body, a cam adapted to move the head and die axially, whereby thedie spreads outward or flanges the end of the can, means for yieldinglycompressing the head against the cam and means for yieldingly pressingthe die in an axial direction in ependently of the head.

5. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising a bearingand cam thereon, a shaft mounted in the bearing to rotate and to moveaxially, a head carried by the shaft and adapted to be actuated by thecam, a spring pressing the shaft and head to hold the latter against thecam, a die carried by the head and movable independently thereof andmeans for pressing the die in an axial direction independently of theaxial motion of the head.

6. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising a bearing,a cam thereon, a shaft mounted in the bearing to rotate and moveaxially, a head carried by the shaft and adapted to be actuated axiallyof the shaft by the cam, means for rotating the head and shaft, meansfor yieldingly pressing the head toward the cam, a die, a stud thereonfitted loosely in a recess in the 'shaft, the stud and die turning withthe head and shaft and means for yicldingly pressing the die and stud inan axial direction independently of the axial motion of the head.

7. A mechanism for flanging the'ends of can bodies comprising a rotatinghead to engage the end of the can body, a die carried thereby andconforming in shape to and adapted to fit Within the end of the can bodyand means for imparting to the die a back and forth motion axially ofthe can, Whereby to spread outward or flange the end thereof, said headhaving an annular flange to inclose the end of the can body.

8, A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising a rotatinghead to engage the end of the can body, a die carried thereby andconforming in shape to and adapted to fit within the end of the canbody, means for imparting to the die a back and forth motion axially ofthe can, whereby to spread outward or flange the end thereof, said headhaving an annular flange to inclose the end of the can body and an areshaped stud to be engaged by the can body and position the same withrespect to the die. I

9. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising a rotatinghead to engage the end of the can body, a die carried thereby andconformin in shape to and adapted to fit within tie end of the can bodyautomatically, operated means for imparting to the die a back and forthmotion axially of the can, whereby to spread outward or flange the endthereof, and means on the head to hold and position the can body withrespect to the die.

10. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising arotating die to engage the end of the can, automatically operated meansfor im arting to the die a back and forth motion fbngitudinally of thecan, whereby to spread outward or flange the end thereof and means tohold the cam positioned for the action of the die, said die engaging theend of the can body simultaneonsly at all points of its circdmferenceand acting to form a continuous flange thereon at all points of thecircumference of the can body at the same time, substantially asspecified.

11. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies, comprising rotatingmeans to feed and hold the can body in position, and a tapering dieconcentric with said feeding and holding means and carried thereby andconforming in shape to and adapted to enter within the end of the canbody and engage the same simultaneously at all points of itscircumference and acting to form a continuous flange thereon at allpoints of its circumference at the same time, substantially asspecified.

12. A mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies, comprising arotating means to feed and hold the can body in position, said rotatingmeans comprising a head having a flange conforming to the crosssectional form of the can, but larger than the diame ter thereof, and atapering die within the flange adapted to enter the end of the can bodyand bend or draw the same outward toward the said flange on the head.

13. In a mechanism for flanging the ends of can bodies comprisingopposing rotating and reciprocating heads adapted to receive the canbody between them and having flanges conforming to the cross sectionalform of the can, but larger than the diameter-thereof, said flangesreceiving the ends of the can body, arc shaped studs projecting inwardfrom the flanges and adapted to 110-- sition the can body and diescarried by the heads and adapted to enter the ends of the can bodies todraw or bend the same outward toward the flanges.

14. A machine for flanging can bodies. having means to rotate the canaround its longitudinal axis and a reciprocating die adapted to engagethe end of the can body during the rotation thereof to swage or bendsaid end and form a flange, said die fitting within the end of the canbody and simultaneously engaging its entire circumference and acting toform a continuous flange around the whole circumference of the can bodyat the same time by the movement of the die in the direction of the axisof the can. i

15. A machine for flanging the ends of can bodies, having means forrotating the can body around its longitudinal axis. a rotating dieadapted to turn with the can and means for periodically reciprocatingthe die against the end of the can to swagc or bend a flange thereon,said die fitting within the end of the can body and simultaneouslyengaging its entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flangearound the whole circumference of the can body at the same time by themovement of the die in the direction of the axis of the can.

16. A means for flanging the ends of can bodies comprising a die adaptedto engage the end of the body and swage or bend a flange thereon, and alimiting wall coacting with the die to limit and true the flange, saiddie fitting Within the end of the can body and simultaneously engagingits entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flange aroundthe Whole circumference of the can body at the same time by the movementof the die in the direction of the axis of the can.

17. A means for forming flanges on can bodies having a die adapted toenter the end of the can and spread or swage outward a flange thereon,said die fitting within the end of the can body and simultaneouslyengaging its entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flangearound the whole circumference of the can body at the same time by themovement of the die in the direction of the axis of the can and alimiting wall coacting with the die inclosing said flange to true thesame, and means for forcing the die and can body together in thedirection of the length of the can body.

18. A means for forming flanges on can bodies comprising a die adaptedto enter the end of the can and swage or bend a flange outward thereon,said die fitting within the end of the can body and simultaneouslyengaging its entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flangearound the whole circumference of the can body at the same time by themovement of the die in the direction of the axis of the can, said diehaving an outwardly projecting lip or flange against which the flange ofthe can is formed and means for forcing the die and can body together inthe direction of the length of the can body.

19. A means for forming flanges on can bodies comprising a die adaptedto enter the end of the can and swagc or bend a flange outward thereon,said die fitting within the end of the can body and simultaneouslyengaging its entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flangearound the Whole circumference of the can body at the same time by themovement of the die in the direction of the axis of thecan, said die haring an outwardly projecting lip or flange against which the flange ofthe can is formed, and a limiting wall surrounding said lip or flangeand serving to limit and true the flange on the can and means forforcing the die and can body together in the direction of the length ofthe can body.

20. A machine for forming flanges on can bodies, having a rotating andreciprocating die adapted to engage the end of the can to form theflange and a limiting wall rotating with the die to engage the edge ofthe flange and limit and true the same, said die fitting within the endof the can body and simultaneously engaging its entire circumference andacting to form a continuous flange around the whole circumference of thecan body at the same time, and means for delivering and supporting thecan body axially in line with said die.

21. A machine for forming flanges on can bodies comprising a rotatingand reciprocating die to form the flange and a rotating means forpositioning the can to the die.

22. A means for forming flanges on can bodies, having a reciprocatingdie to form a flange, a limiting wall for the flange to abut against,and a stripper acting in unison therewith to disengage the can from thedie, said die fitting Within the end of the can body and simultaneouslyengaging its entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flangearound the whole circumference of the can body at the same time, andmeans for delivering and supporting the can body axially in line withsaid die.

23. A means for forming flanges on can bodies comprising opposin dies toengage the ends of the can body, limiting walls for the flanges to abutagainst, and strippers moving in unison with the dies to disengage thecan from the die or dies, each of said dies fitting within the end ofthe can body and simultaneously engaging its entire circumference andacting to form a continuous flange around the whole circumference of thecan body at the same time, and means for delivering and supporting oneby one the can bodies between said dies.

24. A means for forming outward flanges on the ends of can bodies,comprising opposing dies to form flanges, and coacting means surroundingthe dies to limit the flanges and to engage the formed flanges toseparate the can from the dies.

25. A means for flanging can bcdie's, having a die and a Wall juxtaposedthereto to position the can body to a die, such wall having a flange toengage the flange of the can for the purpose specified.

26. A means for flanging can bodies, hav ing a former head with alimiting flange thereon, a die inclosed by said flange and a meanscarried by the former head to position the can to the die.

27. A means for forming flanges on can bodies, having a former head, alimiting flange thereon and a die incloscd by the flange, said flangebeing extended at one point to form a Wall and the wall having an inwardflange for thepurpose specified.

28. A machine for operating on the ends of can bodies, having a rotatingand reciprocating die and a wall surrounding and rotatin with the same,the Wall serving to position the can to the die and to limit the extentof the flange formed by the forcing of the die and can body together,said die fitting within the end of the can body and W simultaneouslyengaging its entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flangearound the Whole circumference of the can body at the same time.

29. In a machine for performing operations on the ends of can bodies,the combination of a chute to hold a number of can bodies, a rotatingtool or die to act on the can body and a wall projecting beyond the toolor die and rotating therewith past the end of the chute, the wallserving successively to enter the can bodies into position opposite thetool and to hold back the other can bodies during the operation of thetool.

30. In a machine for performing operations on the ends of can bodies,the combination of a chute to carry the can bodies, a tool or die to actthereon and a wall moving in a rotary course past the mouth of the chuteand serving successively to receive the can bodies and position them tothe tool or die, said wall also serving to hold the remaining can bodiesduring the action of the tool or die, said die fitting within the end ofthe can bodv and simultaneously engaging its entire circumference andacting to form a continuous flange around the whole circumference of thecan body at the same time by the movement of the die in the direction ofthe axis of the can.

31. In a machine for performing operations on the ends of can bodies,the combination of a chute, two opposing tools or diesarranged at themouth of the chute and a rotating wall moving past the mouth of thechute and serving successively to position the can bodies to the toolsor dies and to hold back in the chute the remaining can bodies duringthe operation of the tools or dies.

32. In a machine for making cans, the combination of a Hanging diehaving a surrounding limiting wall for the flange to abut against, arotatable and reciprocal spindle carrying the same, means for rotatingthe spindle including a cam serving periodically to move the shaftaxially in one direction and means to return the shaft.

33. In a machine for making cans, the combination of a Hanging diehaving a surrounding limiting wall for the flange to abut against, arevoluble and reciprocating shaft on which the same is carried, a meansfor rotating said shaft, a spring pressing the shaft in one directionand means including a cam periodically to move the shaft contrary to thespring, said die fitting within the end of the can body andsimultaneously engaging its entire circumference and acting to form acontinuous flange around the Whole circumference of the can body at thesame time by the movement of the die in the direction of the axis of thecan.

34. In a machine for making cans, the combination of a Hanging diehaving a surrounding limiting Wall for the flange to abut against, arevoluble and reciprocal shaft to carry the same, means to rotate the.shaft, a spring to press the shaft axially in one direction, a rollerattached to the shaft to move with it and a track disk engaged by theroller and having a cam thereon periodically to move the shaft contraryto the spring, said die fittin within the end of the can body and simutaneously engaging its entire circumference and acting to form acontinuous flange around the whole circumference of the can body at thesame time by the movement of the die in the direction of the axis of thecan.

35. The combination with a pair of opposing Hanging dies havingsurrounding limiting Walls for the flanges to abut against, of means forsupporting a can body in position between said dies and means forforcing said dies toward each other and separating the same, each ofsaid dies fitting within the end of the can body and simultaneouslyengaging its entire circumference and acting to form a continuous flangearound the whole circumference of the can body at the same time,substantially as specified.

36. A Hanging head including in combination, a stem, a cap carriedthereby, a limiting ring seated on said cap, a die located within saidring and having its curved forming face within the outer edges of thelimiting ring when the head is pressed against the metal, whereby theedge of the metal being bent by the forming die, is brought intoengagement with the limiting ring.

37. A Hanging head including in combination, a stem, a cap carriedthereby, a limiting ring seated on said cap, a die located wlthin saidring and having its curved forming face Within the outer edges of thelimiting ring when the head is pressed against the metal, whereby theedge of the metal being bent by the forming die is brought intoengagement with the limiting ring, and means whereby said die isyieldingly moved relative to the Hanging head to strip the metal fromtheHanging head.

38. In a can Hanging machine. means for loosely holding a can body, aHanging die adapted to engage circumferentially the end of the can body,and turn the same out wardly to form a projecting flange thereon, andhaving a stop shoulder adapted to be encountered by the edge of thesheet metal and thereby limit the projection of the flange, combinedwith means for pressing said die and the can body together by pressureexerted through the can body in a direction longitudinally of the body.whereby the entire circumference of the end of the body issimultaneously ttirned outwardly to form the flange which is terminatedby said shoulder.

39. In a can Hanging machine, a pair of flanging dies adapted to engagethe opposite ends of a can body, each die adapted to engagecircumferentially one end of the can body and having a centeringprojection adapted to enter the can body, with an outwardly flaringshoulder at the base thereof,

and an annular stop shoulder surrounding the same, adapted to limit theprojection of the flange, combined with means for forcin said diestogether against a can body he (1 between them, whereby the entirecircumference of each end of the can body is simultaneously turnedoutwardly to form the flange which is terminated by said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LEE C. SHARP.

Witnesses:

HILDA SHARP, BERT RODMAN.

flangin dies adapted to engage the opposite ends 0 a,can body, each dieadapted to enga e circumferentially one end of the can body and havinga' centering projection adapted to enter the can body, with an outwardlyflaring shoulder at the base thereof,

and

the same, adapted to limit the projection of the flange, combined withmeans for forche (1 between them, whereby the entire cir- Corrections inLetters Patent No.1,1 18,590.

cumference of each end of the can body is simultaneously turnedoutwardly to form the flange which is terminated by said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of an annular stop shoulder surrounding two subscribingwitnesses. v

LEE C. SHARP.

Witnesses:

HILDA SHARP, BERT RODMAN.

said dies together against a can body It is hereby certified that inLetters Patent No. 1,118,590, granted November 24,

1914, upon the application of Lee C. Sharp, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska,for an improvement in Machines for F langing the Ends of Can-Bodies,errors appear in the printed specification requiring. correction asfollows: Page 3, line 50, after the word body insert a comma, and sameline, after the word automatically strike out the comma; page 4, line23, after the word die insert the word and; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with these corrections therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of January, A. D.', 1915.

[SEAL] R. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Uommz'sswner of Patents;

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,118,590, grantedNovember 24, 1914, upon the application of Lee C. Sharp, of Plattsmonth,Nebraska, for an improvement in Machines for F lenging the Ends ofCan-Bodies, errors appear in the printed specification requiringcorrection as follows: Page 3, line 50, after the word body insert acomma and same line, after the word automatically strike out the comma;page 4, line 23, after the word die insert the word and; and that thesaid Letters Patent shohld be read with these corrections therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of January, A. D.; 1915.

[smL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting C'ommz'aswnaof Patents.

